The correct way for the elderly to take American ginseng is to take it symptomatically under the guidance of doctor, reasonably match it with other traditional Chinese medicines, and take it by decoction or in pills and powder.
First of all, it should be taken symptomatically. As a traditional Chinese medicine, before taking American ginseng, the elderly must let professional doctors assess their physical condition, and they can take American ginseng only if there exists deficiency of both qi and yin. If there is no deficiency of qi and yin, or even phlegm-dampness, dampness-heat and other problems, taking American ginseng will not only fail to improve the health condition, but may also aggravate the discomfort.
This is because American ginseng is a tonic Chinese medicine and its main function is to nourish qi and yin and alleviate the problem of qi and yin deficiency in the body. If there is phlegm-dampness or dampness-heat in the body, taking American ginseng will cause the phlegm-dampness or dampness-heat to worsen.
Secondly, it should be reasonably matched with other Chinese medicines. Although American ginseng is a good tonic Chinese medicine, but the so-called power alone, if the body exists qi and yin deficiency, only eat American ginseng efficacy is limited, can not improve the physical condition in a short period of time, you need to reasonably collocation with other traditional Chinese medicine.
For example, it can be combined with Yucca, Dendrobium, Maitake, etc. to treat stomach yin deficiency and spleen qi deficiency; with Maitake, Schisandra, etc. to treat lung qi and yin deficiency, and so on.
American ginseng is a traditional Chinese medicine and should be used under the guidance of a Chinese medicine practitioner for diagnosis and treatment, and should not be purchased and used on one’s own, so as to avoid delaying one’s condition.